Machine for folding carton inserts



Jan. 1, 1952 B SAYRE ET AL 2,580,846

MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTON INSERTS Filed May 14, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III I24 //0 //2 E h lNVENTORS Gorgon B. vSvipyre .MQGA //0 scar s //2 O 226 MM Z24 TTORNEX mmmcammmcmmm Jan. 1, 1952 e. B. SAYRE El AL ,8

MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTON INSERTS INVENTORS 4 Gordon B. Sayre Oscar Winz 401 M ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1952 SAYRE ET AL 2,580,846

MACHINE FOR FOLDING CARTON INSERTS Filed May 14, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Gordon B. Spyre Oscar Wmz Fig. 12. BY MW ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1 1 952 UNITED .S TATES PATENT QFfFfllCE MACHINE "FOR FGIZDIN G CARTON Gordon Ba Sayre and oscar Winz ,,-Boonton, N. .J

assignors toBoonton Molding Company, Boon-'- ton, N. .J., .a corporation of New .Jersey' Application-May 14, 1947, Serial No. 748;062

.Gla'ims. (Cl.-93-l1:)

'Thisinvention relates ito the folding aof inserts FfOI cartons, andzmore particularly to apparatus :forthat purpose.

".The primary obj eat of the invention is to :gentera'llyzimprove the operation of .packagingarticles in cartons having zfolde'dflinserts. A more particular object is to expedite and :speed up the fielding :of the insert bl'anks, .and to :minimize the labor required :lor that purpose. From this viewpoint the objectcf the invention :is :to .1pr'ovide a v machine for folding insert blanks.

More ispecific objects of the invention are to provide such a machine "which -'-is adapted to 1016. inserts for use incartons of different size; which is adapted to "foldinserts having folded 'ends of v differentshap'e :or size; which is adapted to fold inserts having a different number of folds of 'material at the ends; and which is adapted to fold an insert having a iolded -end-'-o'1-one 'size at "one end, and of di'fieren't size :at the other end. The inserts are usually employed in pairs. "Thus vertical'inserts may be used at the "front and backoi a carton on eachside of the art'icle being protected. In accordance with afurther feature and object of the present invention, a single mal1 chine isarranged to simultaneously fold two inserts, so that they may be slid into position on :opposite sides'o'f the carton 'by a single operator. An ancillaryobjectis to make it possible to :fold the' two inserts in a sing le-operation of the ma :chine, even though "the inserts may differ-somewhatin dimension.

To accomplish .the foregoing general :objects, and :other more specific objects. which :willhere- .zin'afterappear, ouriinvention resides in ath'e appa- ,1

:ratus ior folding i'carton inserts .and. .the elements thereof, and their 5relationone to :another, as are hereinafter described in the following speci- -fication. The specification is accompanied by "drawings, which:

:Fig. 1.1's "a .front elevation of amachine :embodying ife'aturesof our invention;

, Fig.2 is a horizontal view taken approximately --i n the;plane of theline. 2--2v .of Fig. 1;; 1 Fig. Bis a :rearelevation of :the machine;

.Fig. 4 is aside elevation taken approximately .in the planezoftheline -4-4 of. Fig. 3.;

Fig. i515 ahorizontal view. taken approximately in the planeof the line 5.5-.of:Fig. 3; Fig. .6 is ;a transverse-section through a form used to doldtan end of the insert blank, this :section being taken approximately :in the plane of theline 6-6 .OfJFig. l7;

Fig. {I .iis :a partially "sectioned elevation of :the storm; 'I.

-0r so-ealled hank of the radio receiver.

:Fig. 28 is anrend view of the form;

Fig. 9 isexplanatory of a detailof a clamp connection, drawn to enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 is a section taken -.approximatelyv in the plane of the line ted-Bigot 9;

Figs. .1 1 Sand 11a are diagrammatic views of the pneumatic, means for operating. the machine; and

i zi sa pla v ew of ae r o l o -i ethe folded inserts in position.

Referring .to the drawings,.-and.more particularly to Fig. .12, article, in thiscase, a molded plastic :cabinet '12 for .a .small .radio receiver, is

packaged in a suitable heavy :oardboard carton,

the open top of which ,is later =c10sed :by means of the four flaps I 1, l6, l8 andQ-O. The article I2 .is spaced rrom the bottom of the :carton by means of a suitable .insert, not shown. It is spaced from the side walls of the carton-bymeans of two .folded inserts 22 and 1 24. .These are made of blanks, the ends of which ."are rolled up to form spacers r25, 28, .30 'and 32. Thesespaeers .not only cushion thearticle against lateral move- :shown aroundthe article 2, and additional space has been shown between .the folds of the inserts and between the inserts and the .car.ton, but in actual practice all-of these parts fit very snugly together. .In .'fact, it is customary to place the article in the carton (on a bottom insert), before attempting to slide the inserts 22 and 24 into the carton, for the parts fitsosnugly :that the slight taper of the article [2 rmakes 'it easier to slide the inserts around the article than to slide the article-between the-inserts.

In'Fig. 12 it may be noted that the column 28 is narrower than the columns 26; 1311 and 32. .The columns :26 and 30 arein this .case designed to snugly fill'the full width of the-carton, but the column 28 is narrowed in ordertoprovideaspace 34 between the columns 2.8 and 32. This :space is used .to receive the folded power supply cord, This same-problem might arise in connection with the packaging :of substantially all electrical appliblank being cut to proper dimension, and being scored in advance at the proper fold lines. Stacks of these blanks in flat condition are shipped to the manufacturer of the article separately from the cartons. At the manufacturer the blanks are folded up by hand, and slid into the carton around the article as previously described. These inserts have been very troublesome to fold and handle. It is usually necessary to have three employees at the folding station, two of whom fold the blank and hold it long enough for the third to seize the folded blank and slide it into the carton. It should be understood that the resilience of the material is such that it tends rather forcibly to unroll as soon as it has been folded. In fact, the security and strength, and cushioning action of the completed carton, depends to a considerable extent on the continuous tendency of the insert to unfold, and while this is desirable in the packaged carton, it makes the packaging operation itself a troublesome one. For example, it is not possible to roll up the inserts in advance, and to have them available in rolled form. Instead, they must be used immediately after being folded, and cannot be let go for an instant until they have been inserted in the carton, for if either end is accidentally released, it will immediately snap open with considerable force and accompanying noise.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing, the apparatus of the present invention includes a form 40 dimensioned to act as a core for the insert. This form has means to hold one end of the blank, and for that purpose is preferably split as indicated at 42. The form is provided with a hub 44, so that it may be secured to a shaft, and it will be evident that rotation of the shaft will operate to fold one end of the blank. The mounting of the form on the shaft is preferably a detachable one, so that different forms may be used when changing the article being packaged, for each article may require inserts of different dimension and shape.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the apparatus preferably comprises spaced bearings 50 and 52, which are mounted for relative movement toward or away from one another. These bearings carry shafts 54 and 56, which in turn carry the form 40, and a mating form M. It will be understood by comparing the solid-line positions with the broken-line positions 40, 4I, that the bearings, shafts, and forms are moved together as they are rotated, thus compensating for the shortening of the blank as it is folded. In the particular machine here illustrated, the bearings 50 and 52 are carried on arms 60 and 62, pivoted at 64 and 66, and actuated by suitable means, in this case, a. pneumatic piston and cylinder generally designated 68. Adjustable stop means I limit the minimum spacing between the arms, and adjustable stop means 12 limit the maximum spacing between the arms, depending, of course, on the dimensions of the particular insert being folded.

In accordance with an important feature of the present preferred form of our invention, the shaft 54 is driven by a rack 84, and the shaft 56 is rotated by a rack 86, and the inner ends of the racks may be secured at a desired height, thereby placing the racks at a desired angle. This, in turn, determines the number of revolutions of the shafts which will result when the arms change from the maximum spacing shown in solid-lines, to the minimum spacing shown in dotted lines. Such an adjustment is most important, because in one case the folded ends may be large, yet have a small number of folds, and in another case the folded ends may be small, yet have a larger number of folds. Hence it is important that the interrelation between the displacement of the shafts and the number of revolutions accompanying that displacement be made highly variable. In the present case, the inner ends of the racks are secured to an anchor block 88, which may be clamped at any desired point along a vertical post 90. When the anchor block is secured in lowermost position, there is substantially no rotation of the shafts in response to movement of the arms. When the anchor block 88 is clamped in uppermost position, so that the racks are substantially horizontal, there is a maximum rotation of the shafts in response to movement of the arms.

Considering the apparatus in greater detail, and referring to Figs. 1 through 4, the machine comprises a rectangular, horizontal frame 92, supported on corner legs 94, said frame carrying stationary bearings 96 for shaft 64, and bearings 98 for shaft 66. The arm 60 previously referred to is in reality a pair of spaced arms carried. on shaft 64, and similarly, the arm 62 is a pair of spaced arms carried on shaft 66. This is best shown in Fig. 4, in which it will be seen that arms 62, most simply made of angle iron, are rigidly secured in spaced collateral relation by means of a top plate I00, and a bottom plate I02. The bolts which hold the bottom plate I02 may also be used to hold bearings I04, carried on the fulcrum shaft 66 previously referred to. The bolts which hold the top plate I00 are used to hold the bearings 52 for the shaft 56 previously referred to. It will be understood that the arm 60 like the arm 62, may be made up of a pair of members rigidly spaced by plates, which also carry the bearings for the shaft 54 and the fulcrum shaft 64.

To ensure equal movement of the arms, or symmetrical positioning of the arms relative to a vertical center line, the arms are preferably appropriately interconnected. Linkage may be used for this purpose, but in the present case we have employed gear sectors I06 and I08, the gear sector I06 being secured to the shaft 64, and the gear sector I08 being secured to the shaft 66. If the driving force of the machine is applied to one of the arms, the gear sectors should preferably be relatively heavy in design, in order to take the operating load of the machine. When, however, the operating force is applied simultaneously to both arms as in the present case, there is theoretically no load on the gear sectors, and they may be relatively light in design.

To operate the arms 60 and 62, they are preferably provided with downward extensions, to which the operating force is applied. In the present case the arm 60 has a pair of downward extensions H0, and the arm 62 has a pair of downward extensions II2. These are preferably bent relative to the arms 60 and 62, in order to provide operating room therebetween, as is indicated by the change from the solid-line to the broken-line positions in Fig. 1. Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the closed end of cylinder 68 is carried on a block II4, having a cross-bar IIB carrying forked bearings II8 receiving clamps I20 by means of fulcrum pins I 22. The piston rod I24 is threaded at its outer end, and secured by nuts to a crosshead I26, which in turn is secured by nuts to threaded rods 128. These. carry forked bearin s "I 30,.swhichare .pivotally connected to clamps I32 :by means of pins I34. The clamps I32 are-.bolted;tightly on the .extensionsIIfl, while the .clamps I20 are bolted-tightly n-;the extensions .I I2. :It will thus .beevident that relative movementof the piston and .cylinder is applied .to the-.-ex tensions, and ithenceto thearrns lifl .and'62.

The piston .may be :actuatedby anyysui-table fluid :medium. which in the present .-:case is :com- .pressedair. Referring to Fi ..11,;it;.wi1l1be.seen that .thegends r thepylinder are connected. rnreferably throu h fl xible nines I36 and 138,110 :a .c nventi nal;fur=way=;valve 140.. It will ,be .aevie den from mpa ison of the p siti ns .:of :the i oto I42 F s. ll-fi'lli-Eigallthat compressed .air maybe applied toeitherend orthezcylinder. the opposite end :then;;b ein g vented .fordischarge of air, and thatthenioveinentof the linkage, and conse u n ly .thearm is p sitive ,in ,both direcztions. Thepipes I36, I38, and.thevalve;l.4fl are sho n in Figs. 3 and 1,4, which also show :a :ioot pedal I44 connected to valve I40, by means of which the operator ,rnay control the ,machine while using ot h ds .to app y the fla -b a fr th mac ine .iQr insertion in the cartoni f rri eh o F s -.9 and 10.11; .will be ,seen that th lamnisniade .up or an inne part I46 d m ns oned t it aroundihe extension II2 of .thearm, nd an oute pla I .8 whichissecured t h pa t 46 by means of .rf ur screws. h Pa t 1 so di e s o ed as to provide acleartime at bet een th paits I46 and 48. :in q q ne 0f W ichtheposition of the cla p o the exte sion is r i y dete mined. While i s n e s n i t roi ide ,fo a iustah lity ;of the Q ra hs er hder a ve t direction, ,such an adjustment iscenvenientfor two reasons. .Qne is that when the arms are toswing through only ashort stroke, the cylinder maybe lowered, thus providing greater leverage, and utilizing more of the stroke of the-piston. The vertical adjus mentis not es en iaLbeca se ano he pla would be to emplqyonly a small part of the available pistonstroke, but the ability to use a larger partof the stroke is an advantage, as for exam h n in h hehallv tihim terial o the insert or n h ava able fl id pres ure i c m rativ ly low.

Anothe reason the verti al adjustm i d s rah e wil be cl ar from hene t qne F g-. of the -draw n i Wh c it wi l beseen that the .clamp LI 32 has been fixedat a lowerposition than h c p I B- Thus th arm :5 is s bjecte to ;a greater torque than the arm 60. This may be done h n t fewes heehd o the .h ankdifie from h se at th othe end o he ,-.b1ank, so that the operation atone end constituesa greater load than the operation at the otherend. Here again h e ti eadi e t i a refineme t which is not essential, for any difference in load w ld be en c re by th m shin ear .sec- Qrs- Howe e .b tak n advan a e of he availab e a us nt. theoa on t e ear sectors-may he reduced to s ubstantially zero.

It has already been mentioned that the inward and outward movement of the arms is limited by adjustable stops. .In the present case, the inward movement is limited by stops :III, which come into, abutting relationship when the arms :move inward as is indicated at is in Fig. 1, and at 'lflain' Fig. .3. Inasmuch as the stops-10 are iihreaded :bolts, the effective length thereof may u yaried-bychan ihgthe position or thenuts at 325 .to themachine, or to remove the iolded ,blank tthe bas'e of the :holt. wFor .a large change-tin dimension, :the zbolts 111 are replaced zby other-"b'olts =of asdifferent length. ;;Ho.w-eyer, for.=small...chang'es such as to adjust-the-tensioniof'zthe'web portion of the blankextending betweenthe folded :ends, thebolts maybe adjustedby means of the thread t-hereon. In Fig. 1 it will benoted that the :web portion I52 -of the folded blank is somewhat slack, andsags downwardly: slightly. The stops 10 are preferably adjusted to produce this-:efiect, in -order to-facilitate. sliding 'thefoldedinsertfrom ithe forms.

The outward movement 0f the arms limited =inthe present case by means of astop inthe'form :of a threaded link 12 passing "through ears I54 and I56,.'on arms :Bfl and 62 respectively. "It will be understood that the-link -I2 is slidable through either or both :of :the'ears I54. 'In the specific term :here illustrated, the link "I0 is threadedly receivedinthe ear I56, and is locked inadjustment by means of-a-lock-nut I58. The head-end of the rod I2 is v slidable through the ear I54. Thisarrangement hasthe advantage of not-subjecting the threaded end of rod I2 to sliding friction. The link I2 is adjusted to such an opening of the arms that the insert blank I60 will just fit between and fill the forms 4|] and 4| substantially as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The mechanism forrotati-ng the forms'may be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of "the drawing. The form 40 is secured to the forward :end of the shaft 55, which is carried in bearings 52. The rear end of shaft 56 carries a pinion I62, and a rack guide I64, which holds the rack '88 in mesh with the pinion I52, the rack guide I64 being freely rotatable about the shaft '56, in order to accommodate changes in the angle of rack 86. In similar fashion the rear end of shaft 54 carries a pinion I65, anda-rack guide I68, for the rack 84. The rack guides may, of course, be provided with anti-friction rollers as is indicated at H0 in Fig. 4, on which the straight smooth outer edges of the racks may ride.

The lower ends of the racks are secured to clamp 88, and referring to Fig. 4, it will'be seen that the rack 86 is displaced sidewardly at its lower end, as is indicated at I72, while the'rack 84 is displaced sidewardly in opposite direction, as is indicated at I14. In this-way-the lower ends of the rack maybe brought into overlappingre- 'lation-at the pivot I'I'B, held rigidly ina boss I18, on clamp 88. The back plate I (Fig. 4) of clamp 88 is held on the remainder of the clamp by means of six screws, best shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that there is a slight clearance between the front and back parts of the clamp, much as was described in connection with 'Fig. 10, so that when the screws are tightened the clamp will be locked in position on the post '90. The post 99 is a smooth uniform piece of stock rigidly secured in upright position. In the present case it is simply bolted to the frame -92.

By adjusting the clamp upwardly or downwardly, the exact number of revolutions of the forms may be adjusted. In the case of the carton insert here illustrated, the ends are folded one-and-a-half revolutions. Thus the open limit stop 12 is adjusted to receive the fiat blank; the closed limit stop It! is adjusted to receive the folded blank; and the clamp 88 is then adjusted on post 90 to provide the desired one-and-a-hal-f revolutions of the shafts during the movement of the arms from the open limit position to the closed limit position. It may be mentioned that in the particular design here illustrated, location 'for the upper shafts.

7 of the clamp in uppermost position will result in five revolutions of the shafts, while location of the clamp in lowermost position will result in only a half-revolution of the shafts.

The construction of the forms is best shown in Figs. 4, '6, '7 and 8 of the drawing. In Fig. 4 it will be seen that there are long members the ends of which are received in spaced jaws I82 formed integrally with a hub 44. In Fig. 6 it .will be seen that the long core members I84 and I86 are generally triangular in section, At the base end a filler piece I88 of rectangular cross-section is provided between the cores I84 and I88. This filler piece terminates flush with the ends of the jaws I82, and creates the desired slot 42 between the cores. The three superposed parts I84, I86 and I88 are clamped between the jaws I82, as by means of screws I98. However, it will be understood that bolts passing entirely through the opposite jaws may be employed. A thin strip of metal I92 may be secured along one edge of the core I84, as by means of small screws I94. This is not essential, but is very convenient in holding the flat blank against endwise movement in the forms. Thus reverting to Fig. I, it will be seen that in initial position the strips are on'the outer edges of the forms, so that the blank is slid into the forms between the strips. This eliminates the possibility of improper registration with the fold lines in the blank as the folding operation proceeds.

Reverting to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the hub portion 44 is provided with a key-way I96, and a set screw I98 for detachably securing the form to the end of the shaft. The shaft, of course, is matingly keyed. The forms are changeable, so that when a different packaging job is being handled, forms appropriate to the inserts for the new job may be used.

In Figs. 1,3 and 4, it will be noted that the arms 88 and 82 carry forms 288 and 282 disposed beneath the forms 48 and 4| so far referred to. In the present case the cores of the form 288 are substantially narrower than those of the other three forms. The forms 288 and 282 receive an insert blank 284, which is rolled up to provide the insert 22 shown in Fig. 12. Inasmuch as column 28 is narrower than column 32, the blank for insert 22is shorter than that for insert 24. Reverting to Fig. 1, this is taken care of by the slope of the arms 68 and-82, and it is merely necessary to displace the forms 288 and 282 such a distance lower than the forms 4i and 48 as Will compensate for the desired difference in length.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the forms 208, 282 are carried by shafts 286 and 288 received in bearings 2 I 8 and 2 I2 much as previously described However, no pinion and rack mechanism is provided for the lower shafts, although if completely independent adjustment of the number of revolutions of the lower shaft were desired, that could be done. In the present case, the lower shafts are driven by the upper shafts, and for that purpose the shafts are provided between the bearings with sprocket wheels connected b sprocket chains, one of which is shown at 2M in Fig. 4. In the illustrated machine there is a 1:1 ratio, for both inserts have ends which are folded one-and-a-half revolutions. However. if in any particular packaging problem one insert is to have a somewhat different number, say two revolutions, the ratio of the teeth on the upper and low-er sprocket wheels is appropriately modified. For this purpose a larger sprocket wheel may be provided on the lower.

shaft, there being no cross-plate at the lower bearings, the larger number of turns being taken at the upper shaft.

The arms 80and 82 are provided with a series of uniformly spaced holes 2 I 6 (Fig. 4) so that the lower bearings may be secured at any desired position along the arms. When the bearings are lowered, it is of course necessary to lengthen the sprocket chain 2I4. The object of this adjustment is to accommodate a situation in which the lower blank 284 (Fig. 1) is even shorter than the upper blank I88, for movement of the lower bearings along the arms brings them closer together. If, however, the converse situation arises, and both blanks are of equal length, the lower bearings are moved outwardly by means of spacer blocks secured on the outside of the arms, between the arms and the bearings.

For the convenience of the operator, a shelf 2 I 8 is provided at the top of the machine on suitable upright supports 220, this shelf being loaded with a supply of the upper blanks. Additional supports, preferably made of metal strap, are indicated at 222 in Figs. 1 and 4, the lower ends of the supports being secured to the frame 82. A stack of the lower blanks is carried on the supports 222. It will be understood that to load the machine, the operator simply takes an upper blank from shelf 2I8, and inserts it in the upper form, then takes a lower blank from the supports 222, and inserts it in the lower forms, and then operates the air valve to brin the arms together. The machine instantly folds the blanks and, what, is equally important, holds them in folded condition for the convenience of the operator.

A suitable conveyor is preferably provided at the front of the machine, and this is indicated in Fig. 2, in which the ends of the rollers 224 secured in a suitable conveyor track 226 are shown. The cartons with the radio receiver or other article already placed therein come moving along the conveyor to the operator standing in front of both the conveyor and the machine. The operator seizes the folded ends of one of the inserts, and pulls the insert from the forms. He then bends the folded ends or columns approximately 90 degrees to assume the relationship shown in Fig. 12, and slides the insert in one side of the carton. The operator thereupon reaches up and slidesthe other insert from the forms, and bends the columns approximately 90 degrees during movement of the insert to the carton, where he slides, or rather wedges it into position. The folded ends are kept under control at all 55 times, first by the machine itself, then by the hands of the operator, and finally by the carton. A single operator performs the work more readily and expeditiously than was heretofore the case with three operators.

It is believed that the construction and operation of our improved machine for folding carton inserts, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while we have shown and described our invention is a preferred form, many changes may be made in the apparatus specifically described, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as sought to bedefined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for folding both ends of a carton insert blank, said apparatus comprising spaced bearings, means movably mounting the same to afford relative movement of the bearings toward 75 or away from one another, shafts carried by said bearings forms: mounted l on. said shafts-,1 said forms being: so. dimensioned as to. act as.- cores fen the. folded. ends of the i insert," each of T said. formsihaving means to :holdan lendof= the blank; and means-to. cause-rotation of .theshafts-to fold. the ends of the blanln. said: movablemounting of said-bearings affording" approach :of said bean ings-ltoiaccommodatethe:shorteningnfltheblank assthetendsof theblank are folde'd.-.

- 2. Apparatus :for folding; a: carton insertblank; said apparatus comprisingspacedl bearings mounted forv relativemovement: toward or away. from.- one another, shafts. carried: by said bean ings, forms mounted on-said shaftssaidformsbeing so.-dimensioned; as to actas: cores' for. 'the folded insert, each; of said forms having a .slitto receiveaannend:of the blank, means to;rota-te'thei shafts-etc fold. the --ends:.-of.-the-=blank; andmeansi to. move i the bearings: together: as the: blanks isa folde.d;-.. i

- 3 Apparatusifon-foldingg a carton :insert blank; said';. apparatus-.- comprising: spaced-z; bearings; mounted for: relative movement! toward oriawamfrom. one. another; shafts carried by" said "bear-' ings, forms mounted. on:said. shafts, said=forms beingwso; dimensioned as to I act as cores-for: thefoldedz insert; each; of; said; forms having: means. to.-hold' an .end of. thevblanlr, means to -move the bearings-toward one: another, and": means to rotate the:shafts.-= as the.-bearings.-move toward oneanother 4. Apparatus.- for foldingza carton insert blank; said; apparatuscomprising spaced bearings. mounted for relativemovementtoward or away fromone. anothenshafts carried by said bearings,-. forms mounted; onesaidz shafts, said: forms being so dimensioned as to act as cores for the: foldedinsert, eachof said forms having; means to hold an endof. the. blank, meansto -rotatezthe. shafts to fold. theendsrof. the blank, .means-to.. move the. bearings together. as th e. blank is fold ed}, and means. affording; relative adjustment of: theaforesaidltwo means.

51 Apparatus .for foldinga carton insert ,blank, said. apparatus comprising:v spaced. bearings mounted for relatiVem-ovement towardv or away, from one another, shafts carriedby. saidbea-rings, forms detachably, mounted onlsaid shafts,. said forms being so. dimensioned as to actas cores fonthefolded insert; each ofsaidformshaving. a slit to receive an end ofi'the blank m'eans. to. rotate the shafts to'foldtl'ieends offthe blank, means" to. move the bearings together as the. blank" is folded; and. means affnrding such relati've a-d ustment of "the aforesaidtwo' means that 55;

the relative" movement of tlie' hearin s' m y be adjusted inrelation tothe number of revolutions ofthe s?" afts so as" to" becommensurate with the dimensions"oftheforms;

63 Apparatus forfolding' 'both'ends of'a carton" to;

insert; said apparatus comprising bearings, means-"movably mounting the same to norerelative movement" of'tl'ie" bearings toward or away from each other; shafts iii-said bearings;

forms" mounted on" the shafts, said forms-"being dimensioned" to act" as' cores for the folded ends of the insert," gears on'- said shafts; and racksmeshing withsaid gears andextending in a direction dilferent fi'omthe direction= of i motion of the bearings, at least one-end of each rack" 71):

v the inner; ends of the racl-zst-being: carried by an.

anchor. block, and! means. whereby said anchor; blocks may: be-securedat a desired pointalonga. line extendinatransversely of the direction of movement of: the bearings, whereby adjustment of: the position ofthe anchor. block positively determinesrthe'relationshiprbetween the: number: of revolutions. of; the shafts and. thamovement;

ofthebearings- 8.: Apparatusrfor; folding both ends of a: carton insert, said..- apparatus--; comprising: bearings; meansx movablygmounting; the: same to afford"; relative movement of the bearings towardtand away from eac-hl-other shafts in said: bearings, forms-:mounted ontheshafts; said forms being:

- dimensioned to act'ascoresfor the-folded ends of: the..insert,- gears onsaid shafts; racks meshing with saidgears and extending :ina direction 1dif:- ferent-fromthe-direction. of motion of. the bear ings; theinner endseof: the racksbeing carried- J by an'anchor. block, apost extending transversely of the? direction-ofmovement: of: the bearings, and means-to :adjustably-clamp said-anchor block at a desired point along said. post, whereby ad-= justment of the anchorblock; on; the postpositively determines: the relationship between; the, numberof; revolutions of: the; shafts -andzthe movement :of the: bearings;

1 9;. Apparatus'for folding a;cart0n insert-,said; apparatus comprising bearings mounted --for. relativemovement towardi-andi awayfrom. each. other; shafts in.- said bearings, forms. mounted 011i the shafts; saidi forms beina dimensioned toactas-cores for thefolded insert, means to. rotate the shafts, adjustable means to determinethe. number: of revolutions; of the shafts, and fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for moving; said bearings toward .or away. fromi one another. I

. l0 Apparatusforfoldinaa carton insert said apparatus. comprising bearings-mounted for relativemovement. toward: and awayfrom each. other: shafts in said'bearin s; forms mounted. on: the shafts, said forms being. dimensioned, t'o-act" as cores:for; the folded insert,- means to rotate said shafts, fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for=moving: said bearings toward or: away from. one another; ad ustable stop; means to: limit'the inward 'movem'entior minimum separation-ref..- the: bearings, and; adjustable stop: means ZtOlliIIlitithB" outward. movement ormaximum:- separation: of: the bearings;

11.; Apparatus for folding a: carton. insert-,1 saidapparatus comprising bearingsgmounted forrele ative; movement toward. and; away, from each:- other; shafts; in; saidi bearings,- for-ms; mountedon. theashaftsy. said former-being: dimensioned to. actiasccoreszfbr the; folded insert, gears on.said,- shafts;;racks meshing" with 1 said gears, the; inner endsiof-lzthesv racks: being' carried; by; an. anchor block; means: .to secure 2. said: anchor block-z at a, desiredipointpalong; a..1ine;- extending; transversely: ofthe direction oftmovementiofz the; bearin s;- whereby adjustment ofth'e; anchors-block: determines. thee-relationship; between: tha= number: of; revolutions; of; the. shafts: the mdvementa of:

11 the bearings, fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for moving said bearings toward or away from one another, and adjustable stop means to limit the resulting movement of the bearings.

12. Apparatus for folding a carton insert, said apparatus comprising bearings mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, shafts in said bearings, forms mounted on the shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded insert, gears on said shafts, racks meshing with said gears, the inner ends of the racks being carried by an anchor block, a post extending transversely of the direction of movement of the bearings, and means to adiustably clamp said anchor block at a desired oint along said post, whereby adjustment of the anchor block on the post determines the relationship between the number of revolutions of the shafts and the movement of the bearings, and fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for moving said bearings toward or away from one another.

13 Apparatus for folding a carton insert, said apparatus comprising bearings mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, shafts in said bearings, forms mounted on the shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded insert, gears on said shafts, racks meshing with said gears, the inner ends of the racks being carried by an anchor block, a post extending transversely of the direction of movement of the bearings, and means to adjustably clamp said anchor block at a desired point along said post, whereby adjustment of the anchor block on the post determines the relationship between the number of revolutions of the shafts and the movement of the bearings, fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for moving said bearings toward or away from one another, adjustable stop means to limit the inward movement or minimum separation of the bearings, and adjustable stop means to limit the outward movement or maximum separation of the bearings.

14. Apparatus for folding both ends of carton inserts, said apparatus comprising arms pivoted at their lower ends in such a manner that the upper ends are movable toward or away from one another, bearings on said arms, shafts carried by said bearings, forms mounted on said shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded ends of the insert and being split to receive the ends of an insert blank when the arms are in open position, and means for rotating said shafts a desired number of revolutions, said pivotal mounting of said arms affording moving together of said bearings to accommodate the shortening of the blank as the ends of the blank are folded by rotation of the shafts.

15. Apparatus for folding carton inserts, said apparatus comprising arms pivoted at their lower:

ends in such a manner that the upper ends are movable toward or V away from one another, means for causing symmetrical movement thereof, fluid-operated piston and cylinder mechanism for moving said arms toward or away from one another, bearings on said arms, shafts carried by said bearings, forms mounted on said shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded ends of the insert, and means for rotating the shafts when the arms change from maximum to minimum spacing.

16. Apparatus for folding carton inserts, said apparatus comprising arms pivoted at their lower ends in such a manner that the upper ends are.

movable toward or away from one another, meshing gear sectors on said arms for causing symmetrical movement thereof, extensions on said arms below said pivots, fluid-operated piston and cylinder mechanism connected between said extensions for moving said arms toward or away from one another, adjustable stop means for limiting the maximum spacing between the arms, bearings on said arms, shafts carried by said bearin sv forms mounted on said shafts, said forms being di ensioned to act as cores for the folded ends of the insert. and means for rotatin the shafts when the arms change from maximum to minimum spacing.

17. Apparatus for folding carton inserts. said a paratus comprising arms pivoted at their lower ends in such a manner t at the upper ends are movable toward or away from one another, meshing gear sectors on said arms for causing svmmetrical movement thereof, fluid-operated piston and cylinder mechanism for moving said arms toward or a av from one another, adjust-" able stop means for limiting the minimum spacing between the arms, adjustable stop means for limiting the maximum spacing between the arms, bearings on said arms, shafts carried by said bearings. forms mounted on said shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded ends of the insert. gear racks meshing with said gears, the inner ends of said gear racks being secured to an anchor block, a vertical post, means to adjustably clamp the anchor block at a desired height on said post, the adjustment of said anchor block on said post determining the number of revolutions of the shafts when the arms change from maximum to minimum spac ing.

18. Apparatus for folding carton inserts, said apparatus comprising arms pivoted at their lower ends in such a manner that the upper ends are movable toward or away from one another, means for causing symmetrical movement thereof, extensions on said arms below said pivots, fluidoperated piston and cylinder mechanism connected between said extensions for moving said arms toward or away from one another, adjustable stop means for limiting the minimum spacing between the arms, adjustable stop means for limiting the maximum spacing between the arms, bearings on said arms, shafts carried by said bearings, forms mounted on said shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded ends of the insert and being split to receive the ends of an insert blank when the arms are in open position, gears on said shafts, gear racks meshing with said gears, the inner ends of said gear racks being secured to an anchor block, a vertical post, means to adjustably clamp the anchor block at a desired height on said post, the adjustment of said anchor block on said post determining the number of revolutions of the shafts when the arms change from maximum to minimum spacing.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which each arm is provided with a plurality of bearings, shafts and forms, for simultaneously folding a plurality of carton insert blanks, the shafts on each arm being appropriately geared together for simultaneous rotation.

20, Apparatus as defined in claim 17, in which each arm is provided with a plurality of bearings,- shafts and forms, for simultaneously folding a plurality of carton insert blanks, the shafts on each arm being appropriately geared together forsimultaneous rotation in response to the drive of the aforesaid gear rack and gear.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which each arm i provided with two spaced bearings, shafts and forms, and in which at least one of the lower forms is smaller in dimension than one of the upper forms, and in which the initial spacing between the lower shafts is less than that cetween the upper shafts by an amount compensating for the smaller amount of material required around the smaller form.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, in which. each arm is provided with two spaced bearings, shafts and forms, and in which at least one of the lower forms is smaller in dimension than one of the upper forms, and in which the initial spacing between the lower shafts is less than that between the upper shafts by an amount compensating for the smaller amount of material required around the smaller form, each of the lower shafts being geared to the upper shaft on the same arm for rotation therewith in response to relative movement of the gear and rack previously referred to.

23. Apparatus for folding both ends of a carton insert, said apparatus comprising bearings, means mounting the same to afford relative movement of the bearings toward and away from each other, shafts in said bearings, forms mounted on the shafts, said forms being dimensioned to act as cores for the folded ends of the insert, gears on said shafts, racks meshing with said gears, the inner ends of the racks being carried by an anchor block, a guide track extending transversely of the direction of movement of the bearings, means to adjustably clamp said anchor block at a desired point along said guide track, whereby adjustment of the anchor block on the guide track determines the relationship between the number of revolutions of the shafts and the movement of the bearings, and a source of power so connected to the apparatus as to cause rotation of the shafts in order to fold the ends of the blank, said movable mounting of said bearings affording an approach toward one another of said forms to accommodate the shortening of the blank a the blank is folded.

GORDON B. SAYRE. OSCAR WINZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 657,647 Curtis Sept. 11, 1900 1,877,239 Henninger Sept. 13, 1932 1,917,126 Johnson July 4, 1933 

